Spectrum Pharma's Bladder Cancer Bamboozle

Written by: Adam Feuerstein01/31/13 - 1:37 PM EST

Tickers in this article:
AGN SPPI

HENDERSON, Nev. ( TheStreet) -- I held out hope Spectrum Pharmaceuticals' (SPPI) new COO Ken Keller, formerly of Amgen (AMGN) , would bring a positive change of direction to the company, reversing the downward slide caused by current CEO Raj Shrotriya. Sadly, I'm still seeing business as usual at Spectrum, which is no good for investors.

On Thursday, Allergan (AGN) returned rights to the bladder cancer drug apaziquone back to Spectrum. The move isn't a surprise given the failure of two phase III studies . Bad news, except in the alternative reality where Spectrum and its diehard supporters reside. There, being saddled with the added development costs of a failed bladder cancer drug is a positive step forward for the company.

For everyone else not wearing clown hats, let's do some truth telling about apaziquone. Spectrum is going to file for FDA approval based on two, separate studies that each failed to hit their primary endpoints with statistical significance. The pooled data from the two studies, with a p value of 0.0174, still fails to meet the FDA's statistical threshold for efficacy from a single clinical trial, commonly set at a p value of 0.01.

The FDA has also already told Spectrum that an advisory committee will likely be convened to evaluate apaziquone. Plus, most importantly, Spectrum will need to conduct an additional phase III study.

I'm going to repeat that last part: Spectrum will need to conduct another phase III study of apaziquone. Let's remember: Two previous phase III studies failed.

I'm sorry, where is the positive news?

Never mind, let's hear what Spectrum spinmeister-in-chief has to say:

"Regaining apaziquone rights will enable Spectrum to take the steps we believe are essential to advancing apaziquone toward commercialization in the U.S., Europe and other key territories," said Shrotriya, in a statement. Insert your own laugh track.

Okay, back to the real world. It's worth revisiting the terms of the Spectrum-Allergan agreement for apaziquone, signed in 2008:

Under the terms of the agreement, Allergan will pay Spectrum $41.5 million at closing and will make additional payments of up to $304 million based on the achievement of certain development, regulatory and commercialization milestones. Spectrum retained exclusive rights to apaziquone in Asia, including Japan and China. Allergan received exclusive rights to apaziquone for the treatment of bladder cancer in the rest of the world, including the United States, Canada and Europe. In the United States, Allergan and Spectrum will co-promote apaziquone and share in its profits and expenses. Allergan will also pay Spectrum royalties on all of its apaziquone sales outside of the United States. Spectrum will continue to conduct the apaziquone clinical trials pursuant to a joint development plan, with Allergan bearing the majority of these expenses .emphasis added.

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